Dandy Dozen '12: South Panola's Conner 1 of nation's top prospects

Jul. 11, 2012

South Panola's Antonio Conner, pictured here making a tackle in a game last year, is a two-way player who has scholarship offers from all 14 SEC schools and a lot of others from around the country. The safety says he'll announce his college choice in January. / Ryan Moore/Hattiesburg American

Written by

Rod Walker

Coming up

•Through July 23: The Clarion-Ledger will unveil the next Dandy Dozen selection daily at noon at clarionledger.com and publish a complete story in print the following day.•July 25: Dandy Dozen photo shoot and interview session.•Aug 12: Our preview section, High School Football '12, publishes.•Aug 17: First full Friday night of MHSAA and MAIS football schedules.

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Lance Pogue has coached six Dandy Dozen players - including two Mr. Footballs - since taking over as the coach at powerhouse South Panola High School in 2007.

So just where does senior safety Antonio Conner, Dandy Dozen No. 7 for Pogue, rank on that list?

"He's at the top," Pogue said without hesitation. "We've been very blessed with some very good ones, but when you talk about a guy who impacts the whole game, you've gotta rank him up there at the top."

The 6-foot-2, 205 pound Conner is the first player named to this year's Dandy Dozen, The Clarion-Ledger's pre-season list of the state's top 12 high school football players.

"I kinda knew I was gon' make it," said Conner with a laugh.

So did everyone else in the state who has caught a glimpse of the ball-hawking safety, a two-way star who cracked the Tigers' starting lineup as a freshman. He is rated the seventh-best player overall in the country (and second best safety) by recruiting service scout.com.

"He just makes our defense so much better when he's on the field," said Pogue. "The guys just play at a different level with him."

Conner is the 21st player from South Panola to be named Dandy Dozen, the most of any school in the state. He's the second in his own household, following ex-Tiger standout David Conner, who made it in 2008.

"It's really a family tradition," said David. "It's amazing how my little brother, the person who I, along with all my cousins, taught everything we know, turned out to be this good. It's crazy to see all that talent in one person."

The Conners are the eighth set of siblings to be named to the Dandy Dozen.

Antonio knew he had big shoes to fill.

"When I first started playing, coaches would always say, 'Aw if we had David here, we know he could get the job done,'" said Conner. "That motivated me. It feels good to keep it going in the family, but I know I can't get the big head. I have to keep working hard on the field and in the classroom."

Conner played both ways last season, rushing for 1,472 yards and 22 TDs while recording 23 tackles and two interceptions on his way to being named All-State for a second straight season.

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But the season didn't end the way he planned. The Tigers' string of nine straight trips to Jackson for the state title game was halted by Madison Central in the 6A quarterfinals.

"That hurt," said Conner. "But it made us work hard. We were young, so we are coming back this year with a really good group."

College coaches from across the nation are sure to make their way to Batesville to watch Conner, whose list of scholarship offers includes all 14 SEC schools.

"As much recruiting interest as he is getting, you'd never know it because he is constantly working and trying to make sure the other guys are doing what they are supposed to," said Pogue.

Conner says there isn't a favorite right now, but he hopes to make an announcement at the Under Armour All-American Game in January.

That'll be about a month after Conner hopes he has led tradition-rich South Panola to a 10th state championship.

If he does, it'll surely help his case in those debates around Batesville these days of whether or not he's the best player in South Panola history.

Conner wasn't ready to put himself at the top of the list over former Tiger greats like Dwayne Rudd, Eddie Strong and Tig Barksdale.

Asked if he is the best player to play at South Panola, he paused.

"That's a pretty tough one," he said. "There have been a lot of people, some great ones, to come through. I'm just happy being ranked up there with them."

His older brother has a different take.

"I would say he's the best one," said David Conner. "He is just an all-around player. He can play wherever you put him. He's a beast at every spot you put him."